WREXHAM will have less than half the number of affordable homes it needs over the next 13 years.

Planning chiefs warn there will be a shortfall of at least 1,078 affordable homes by 2021.

Wrexham Borough has worked out that over the next 13 years it needs 2,205 affordable homes – that’s about 147 a year.

But after studying its planning blueprints and likely schemes on the drawing board so far, officers are predicting a shortfall of 1,078.

Strategic director Philip Walton says every Welsh authority has to produce for the Welsh Assembly Government an Affordable Housing Delivery Plan to be in place by April 1, 2009.

To be on schedule that means a draft plan will have to go before Wrexham councillors in December.

On Wednesday a committee meets to consider how Wrexham is going to tackle this problem by mapping out for officers what councillors want as their priorities for affordable housing in a three year plan – which will also suggest how it can be achieved.

Mr Walton says: “Affordable housing is needed in Wrexham for a variety of age groups and in a variety of locations.

“The greatest need is for two and four-plus bedroom units and there is a significant growth in the older person’s population which must also be considered.

“The greatest need in terms of location is in Wrexham town, west Wrexham and north east Wrexham.

“If we continue to deliver affordable housing as set out in the current unitary development plan and proposed local development plan, there will be an affordable housing gap of 1,078 units to 2021.”

He says ‘affordable’ homes could be rented through the council or housing associations or shared ownership or discounted to buy.

To tackle the problem he suggests the council could be more flexible in its planning system, consider releasing land, and making better use of social housing grants. Planning opportunities would include perhaps allowing development outside existing settlements; allocating more land for housing; getting developers to put up cash for affordable homes; commuting sums from commercial developments, or using surplus public open spaces.

Councillors will also consider how they could work more closely with registered social landlords over: bringing empty homes back into use; allowing local authority land swaps; releasing land at below market value; investigating the use of arms length companies and Community Land Trusts as means to deliver affordable housing and revising the quotas of affordable homes demanded in development plans.